The Village Market
It opened a year ago to give Roslindale residents a more convenient place to shop. But no one expected the excellent service, friendliness, and variety—and no one dreamed this neighborhood market would steadily siphon customers from the chains. It really shouldn't be surprising: If you could get an abundance of fresh produce, health foods, baked goods, sushi, prepared foods, and all the staples you need, wouldn't you avoid the chainstore bustle? 30 Corinth St., Roslindale Village, MA .
Andrew Provost
One good workout with Provost and you'll be envisioning a new sculpted body. And you won't be the only one: His Saturday morning class is so packed with buff bodies, it looks like an infomerical. Provost's hard-core exercise regime may not be for the faint of heart, but his ever-changing musical repertoire keeps you going, and his slightly wacky style makes his class worlds more fun than most. 23 Central St., Wellesley, MA .
The Raw Bar
Mashpee's New Seabury is one of the Cape's toniest communities, brimming with quaint shops, picture-perfect lawns, and crushed-seashell pathways. The Raw Bar, which dispenses cheap beer beneath bare-breasted mermaid memorabilia, is the one place locals and visitors can really let their hair down. And they do—over platters of raw oysters, littlenecks, and heralded lobster rolls. The latter are technically big enough to share, but if you're like us, you'll want to savor every bite of your own. 252 Shore Dr., Mashpee, MA 2649, therawbar.com.
Audubon Circle
With only one TV in a corner high above the bar, Audubon Circle is not the place to watch baseball. It is, however, the perfect spot for casual salads and sandwiches in a cozy setting. The food is unique and delicious without being fussy: A turkey sandwich gets a touch of tangy guava mustard, while spicy chili mayonnaise puts a kick in the bean burger. After one taste of the veggie quesadilla and Asian pot stickers, you won't even miss the game. 838 Beacon St., Boston, MA auduboncircle.us.
Gregg D'Andrea
Like lots of trainers, Gregg D'Andrea combines resistance training and cardio. But his one-on-one sessions are remarkable for two reasons: His high-intensity spinning workouts are more lively than the usual grind, and his big, buoyant personality (case in point: his rapper-style moniker, Gstar) means there's never a dull moment with this muscle man. 55 Charles St., Needham, MA 2494, .
Harvard Book Store
It's not exactly a shock that Harvard is able to reel in big names for its reading series. The pleasant surprise is the sheer variety, from political leaders (Ralph Nader) to literary-world sweethearts (Gary Shteyngart). Listen to discussions on the environment, the economy, or good old-fashioned plot analysis—and even take part in one yourself, with the book circle or the "Philosophy Café" Many events are free, and the ones that aren't seldom cost more than $5. 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, harvard.com.
Cider Hill Farm
It makes sense that this Amesbury gem is centered around family, given that it’s been run by the same one for three generations. With a hard-cider bar, food trucks, a bee observatory, and a trike yard and giant sandbox for the wee ones, there’s plenty of fun on the 145-acre farm for every age group. Kids and grownups alike, meanwhile, will love making memories while picking their own ripe, juicy fruit all summer and fall long. 45 Fern Ave., Amesbury, MA 01913, ciderhill.com.
MiniLuxe
We have one strategy when it comes to the manicure: Get in and out as fast as possible. Unfortunately, speedy service at many salons can come at the expense of quality—and cleanliness. Which is why it's MiniLuxe for us. The technicians here rub germ-killing sanitizer on mitts and briskly file, buff, and sculpt nails with new and autoclave-sterilized instruments. Then there's the flawless polish application—one that lasts for a full week (no UV light required). 296 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, miniluxe.com.
Artemisia Floral Studio
Floral innovation is in full bloom at Artemisia, the downtown showcase for arrangements that run from delicately tied bundles of tiny daisies to huge, sweeping bunches of irises, roses, and lilies. Exquisite, spare designs—say, planted hyacinths, pussywillows, and roses—are a specialty. But the real kicker here is the personal service, which includes plenty of one-on-one time with the florally proficient employees. 327 Summer St., Boston, MA .
Dominick Mango
Mango's shop, The Image Maker, at 28 Boylston St. in Cambridge, is the favorite of our art director, Sam Savage, who should know about these things. For one thing, Savage says, Mango managed to clear up some pictures he could barely see on the contact sheet. "We give quality prints without killing on the price," Mango says. The Image Maker also has one-day developing service. The Image Maker, 28 Boylston St., Cambridge, MA .
Hollywood Express
Attention. Compassion. Unparalleled Service. No, it's not a bank—it's a video store. Actually, it's a chain of them, staffed by some of the most highly regarded film fanatics in town. They can answer all your dumb movie questions like, "Do you have the one with the girl, and what's-his-name, and they get marooned in the Pacific...?" The deals are sweet too—five tapes for $10 every night (no new releases), and two-for-one on Tuesdays. Only happy endings here! 14 McGrath Highway, Somerville, MA hollywoodexpressvideo.com.
Make/Shift
Collaborative workspaces—centers where many different businesses work in one area, bouncing ideas off one another—are redefining the way we work in Boston. The best of the bunch? The South End's Make/Shift, which merges creative businesses like Spirited magazine, graphic design firm Golden Arrows, and Web design and development company Quilted. Boston, MA 2118, makeshiftboston.org.
Chickadee
Chef John daSilva’s menu at this warm industrial beauty flows with the seasons — just one reason to visit his and Ted Kilpatrick’s Mediterranean-leaning restaurant often. One week you might find razor-clam spaghetti with zippy green harissa; another, you’re diving into striped-bass ceviche. What keeps you coming back, too, is the unpretentious and welcoming scene, making it just about the perfect place to nest. 21 Drydock Ave., Seaport, MA 02210, chickadeerestaurant.com.
E.B. Horn
If you want a piece of jewelry with a rich history, it only makes sense to buy it from a dealer with a storied past. E.B. Horn opened its doors in 1839 and remains one of the region’s largest buyers of estate pieces. Browse a highly curated selection of unique bling, such as a platinum, sapphire, and diamond bracelet from the art deco era and a 14-karat-gold art nouveau pin. During one visit, gemologist Doug Finn even showed us an antique locket with the pictures still inside. 429 Washington St., Boston, MA 02108, ebhorn.com.
Trunk Club
One visit to Trunk Club’s recently opened Boston clubhouse and you’ll be inventing occasions to have a suit made. The swanky digs are just one perk of this personal-styling service’s merger with Nordstrom; another is the access clients have to designer accessories in the department store’s catalog. Sip a cocktail while your stylist takes 26 precise body measurements and then helps you choose everything from the buttons and fabric lining right down to the Gucci loafers. 501 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116, trunkclub.com.